My Sweet Carolina-Harry Styles Fanfiction

Chapter 9- Closing Time

It's been a few weeks since I worked my first night shift and to be honest it wasn't too bad. I mean of course I was super tired towards the end of each shift but it's not too busy by 5 or 6:00. 

I open the door to the backroom just as I have been doing the past few weeks and grab my apron. "I just want to let you know that you are doing a great job with your work here." It made me happy to hear that she was happy with my work, I always try my hardest and at least this time it's paying off. "Thank you that means a lot." She gives me smile and then walks out the door I had just walked through moments ago. 

After I tie my apron on I walk back out towards me register. When I get there I type my password into the system so that my register can operate and just basically wait by until a customer arrives. 

My first week here was tough, it took me a while to remember all of the codes for the fruits and vegetables, stuff like that. But just as Sherry had told me in the beginning, I quickly picked up on everything. Now I could probably even do it with my eyes closed, but I won't try it of course.. that would be so immature of me.

A few customers come by every so often but as I said before it isn't that busy at night. Which is also kind of a bad thing because time went by kind of slow, I wish Jerry was here at night too or somebody I could talk to so I'm not so lonely.

(9:30) I check the time on my phone quickly since I'm working. That means I could start closing up in like 15 minutes and then go home and get some sleep. 

I've been so busy with laundry, dishes, cooking and even cleaning almost everyday. It's tiring but they are things that have to be done.

"Sorry I know you are going to close soon." A woman with a package of diapers says as she tries to dig the money out of her purse. "It's fine don't worry about it. You actually just made it I don't usually start closing up until 9:45."

She hands me the money and I give her the change that she needed back. "Have a great day." I push her bag forward and she picks it up. "Thanks, you too."

Well I guess that's my cue to start to close up shop. I open up the draw full of cash and count it to make sure everything adds up correctly. Which is always the worst part of closing.

Just as I start to count I hear the bell ding indicating that somebody came into the store. I really should put the "Closed" sign up before I count, fully noted. 

I look down at the register and try to close the drawer back up for now until the customer leaves. "We are starting to close. Not trying to rush you or anything..." When people walk in at closing time I always get aggravated with them and I really should''t because it is my own fault, I should put the sign up before I do anything else.

"I'm so sorry. I'll be done in just a second." I'm continuing to try and shove the drawer shut but it is jammed. I hate when that happens. "It's okay.No big deal, just letting you know." Actually maybe it is kind of a big deal because I just want to close up, go home and sleep. But of course I wouldn't say that to a customer, that's rude.

"It was an emergency and no other place has what I need so I saw this place while walking around and thought it was worth a sho---ah huh there they are." Well that's weird he has a British accent, you sure don't hear that everyday here in Las Angeles. I finally get the drawer shut and just in time because the customer comes up to the register.

I look up and when I do something just looked really familiar. But I don't stare too long because otherwise it would creep him out.

"Band-aids huh?" I say laughing. "What did you get yourself into." He chuckles "Well..I was really hungry, having just finished a Skype interview and wanted something to eat. I was cutting some vegetables up and  I guess I got a little too excited and slipped." 

He lifts up his hand and I see that he has a hand towel wrapped around his finger. "Oh wow I guess that really was an emergency..I can relate though, I'm very hungry myself but I'll make a note not to get too excited when I finally get home and eat." He starts to chuckle, darn even his chuckle is ho-- wait a second did he just say a Skype interview just a minute ago.

As I finally bring up the screen for his total it all clicks. He swipes his card and as I wait for the receipt to print I take one last glance..It is him. "Hey..your Harry Styles?" He smirks. "I am.. It took you longer than I had originally thought for you to realize that." 

I can feel my face get a bit warm cause I'm obviously embarrassed. "Yea..I'm sorry about that I should have realized that sooner." He chuckles again making me smile. "Oh..don't worry about it. It's nice to have a normal conversation once in a while that doesn't involve a picture or autograph."

"I can only imagine." He stands there for a moment looking at me and I must say it was a bit odd but still attractive, very attractive. Just making sure you understand the attractive part. 

I rip the receipt out of the machine that I hadn't realized printed moments ago. "Here's your receipt ha-.."

"It may seem very weird but would you like to come back to mine for a bit...I mean you said your hungry so I could just order a pizza. An apology pizza for keeping you open later." 

At first it did seem a bit weird but it was cute. Nobody hasn't invited me anywhere with them since I've been here and I haven't talked with anybody in a while. It would be a good idea to just talk with someone else about something..Other than discussing things with myself. Which is definitely as weird as it sounds. 

"I just may take you up on that apology pizza." I say laughing. "I could just wait over by those shelves while you finish up if you'd like?" I nod my head. "Sure I'll be done in just a few minutes." He walks over to the shelves with his bag in his non injured hand.

Harry's P.O.V

As I wait by the shelves trying to get the band-aid properly around my finger I can't help but think about her. She is different, a good different. It will be nice to get to know her better. 

Just talking with her was like an escape from all of this madness going on in my life. And who doesn't like to escape from reality once in a while?

Chloe

After about 10 minutes I finish closing up and all I have left to do is lock the doors which I can't obviously do until I leave. "Sorry that took so long." 

"Don't worry about it." He said waving his hand in the air. 

When we get outside I lock the door behind me and look to Harry. "I parked just over there..But don't draw too much attention keep your head down.It's hard to get security to let me drive without having someone protect me and I don't want to blow my chances of ever doing it again." 

"Okay..I'll follow your lead."

"Here." He holds out his hand for me to hold, it takes me a second to process everything that is going on but when reality finally smacks me in the face I grab a hold of his hand. "So you don't get lost." 

We got a few stares but Harry has his jacket buttoned all the way up to his chin and his hat pulled down as far as it could go. So nobody really recognized him. 

Thankfully we got to his car without anyone noticing. "I love the fans..all of them. But it's late and I'm a little lazy tonight as well." 

"I get it." He starts the car but before he drives off he turns to me. "I never got you name."

"Chloe." I say giving him a smile.

"Chloe..Chloe. I like it it's different."

He was different too and I liked that about him,I still do..but I was just too naive to realize that he had thought the same thing in the same way I had....

Hey! I hope you guys liked this chapter! I'll be uploading again soon. So make sure to save this story to your library so you can see when a new chapter has been posted. Sorry about the update being a little bit later than usual, I wanted to make sure this chapter was written correctly. Please make sure to vote and/or share my story? Maybe leave a comment?  I love to hear about what you all think about the book. Thank you again for reading!